The Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group, or Vinacomin, has set a target to exploit more than 44 million tonnes of coal in 2011 — 27.5 million tonnes reserved for the domestic market and 16.5 million tonnes for export.

In 2010, Vinacomin sold 42.5 million tonnes, a year-on-year decrease of 4.5 percent, of which, 23.3 million tonnes were provided to the domestic market and 19.2 million tonnes were exported, according to the group's general director, Tran Xuan Hoa.

At present, the total coal reserved reached 6.5 million tonnes and Vinacomin has asked for the Government's permission to export coal dust to ensure its production capacity and raise coal prices to prevent it from incurring losses./.